A few years ago, I did a series I called "Findings in the File." As I was making an attempt to clean out files (which still hasn't totally happened), I found treasure after treasure buried there. And just the other day, I had another "finding in a file"... ok, notebook, hidden in one of those infamous files. It was such fun to find.

Since I'm working on sharing my spiritual journey with a new Bible study group soon to begin, it was a delightful "trip into yesteryear" when I found this -- a "life story and favorite things." It was a presentation done with a small group of precious friends back in 2007, who shared their memoirs also. And then we celebrated each other's lives. What joy!

And so now I thought maybe I would just share my "outline"found in that notebook, in that file...just for fun of it and to encourage you to think about your own life with the "mind of Christ" and gratitude for the treasure that is YOU!

But first, something that came at the end of my outline, but I don't want you to miss if you have just a few minutes to read -- truths still most precious to me. I hope they encourage you too.

“KEYS” TO THE KINGDOMAll the hard things that have happened, especially being emotionally "left alone" in my health issues ... have been “Keys to the Kingdom" for me, so to speak, because now...

1. I know God’s unconditional love for me apart from my performance.

2. I know and embrace my helplessness and God’s strength in my weakness.

3. I know my Lord and God increasingly as a Person, not a list of performances.

4. I know God’s Word and God’s Spirit as my food and drink, without which I shrivel and dry up.

5. I know prayer to be merely inviting the Lord into “my boat” (whatever the situation is), letting it well up from within where the Holy Spirit dwells, instead of formulating it in my head.

Amen!

Now the rest of the outline ... thanks for reading along! Hint: scroll down for "My Sayings and mottos." You may still hear them coming out of my mouth or out of my "pen."

“I’m just a little child locked up in an adult body, trying to live an adult life in a adult world. The only way I can do that is to stay a child with my Abba Father.” (John’s trip to China; 1 John esp. ch 2)

MISCELLANEOUS

Music:Steve Green – “God and God Alone”; “Beauty of the Bride”; “Symphony of Praise”; The Victor”; “Where Mercy Begins” etc. (I’ve been accused by my children of being a “Steve Green groupie”)

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God.Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.There’s nothing enlightened about shrinkingso that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We were born to make manifestthe glory of God that is within us…And as we let our own light shine,we give other people permission to do the same.As we are liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.Nelson Mandela1994 Inaugural Speech

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.Be honest and frank anyway.What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.Build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous.Be happy anyway.The good you do today, people often forget tomorrow.Do good anyway.If you give the world the best you have, it may never be enough.Give the world the best you have anyway.You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.It was never between you and other people anyway.Mother Theresa(quoted at University of Dayton honors assembly)

“KEYS” TO THE KINGDOMAll the hard things that have happened, especially being emotionally "left alone" in my health issues ... have been “Keys to the Kingdom" for me, so to speak, because now...

1. I know God’s unconditional love for me apart from my performance.

2. I know and embrace my helplessness and God’s strength in my weakness.

3. I know my Lord and God increasingly as a Person, not a list of performances.

4. I know God’s Word and God’s Spirit as my food and drink, without which I shrivel and dry up.

5. I know prayer to be merely inviting the Lord into “my boat” (whatever the situation is), letting it well up from within where the Holy Spirit dwells, instead of formulating it in my head.

[And last, the song that says my life...even today]

I thought while on this voyage longMy strength God would increaseAnd at some point along the wayMy struggling would ceaseI fought with boldness, wind and waveAnd yet the skirmish lostExhausted, all provision goneThe channel still uncrossedAs lifeless I in stillness driftJust strength enough to prayIt’s only then I feel the surgeThat speeds me on my way

By His own hand and faithfulnessHe steers me toward a distant shoreAnd the wind that billows in the sailIs grace and nothing moreYes, it’s grace and nothing more

I seek the bloom of holinessHe leads me deep withinReveals the hardness of my heartUnearths my hidden sinMy barren soul groans in despairIn brokenness I cryOh, God, I find no hope in meA smile His sweet replyFor where the tears of brokennessHave soaked the fallow groundThe tender shoots of holinessNow spring up all around

Strength in my weaknessJoy through the painHope when I’m helplessLoss my greatest gain

A Branch In the Vine

Janet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.

About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”

Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.

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